Going to Rome, other than screaming in the Sistine Chapel, what non-touristy things should I do?

[Pieceofpurplesky]

As the title says. Will be doing all the touristy things but does anyone have any recommendations of different things - places to eat etc.
Thanks

The best pizza I’ve had was in Pizzeria Da Baffetto near Piazza Navona. It’s not a fancy dining experience, but the pizza melts away in your mouth. Full of locals, which says something about how nice the pizza is! You queue up for the next spaces on a table to become available.

Last time I went to Rome I also went to the Museo e Cripta dei Cappuccini which is also known as the Bone Church. That’s a life changing experience. You go around the small museum with audio guide first of all to learn about the Cappuccino monks. Then, you go through the crypts which are decorated with the real bones of hundreds of monks in delicate patterns. I almost couldn’t step through the door as my knees turned to water. It’s both beautiful and also so terrifying as you confront and then accept your own mortality.

I love Piazza Navona in the evening.

There are many restaurants just off of the square, which are more authentic and more reasonably priced than those in the square, but would definitely recommend having dessert and drinks in the square purely for the atmosphere.

An all girls trip - my friend wouldn't bat an eyelid as she's used to me!!

The tour guide round the Colosseum said this when my hubby went about 4 years ago. A street back from the Colusseum prices were half those actually 'at' the landmark.
He booked a lot of things before going, including Sistine chapel....avoided the queues.....met guide and a 'secret' door was opened and group ushered through sort of behind the scenes. We love cats, and in Rome (on the old site of the Republican forum) there is area with loads of feral(?) cats.Enjoy yourself.

@Pieceofpurplesky do you mean she's used to you crying out at sheer beauty ?

The Protestant Cemetary in Ostiense is worth a visit to see the graves of Keats and Shelley. So is the Keats and Shelley museum, next to the Spanish Steps.

See Carravagio in San Luigi dei Francesi church.

Go to the Capuchin Crypts - an amazing museum of the Capuchin monks (the guys who wear hair shirts and whip themselves). Actually really fascinating.

If you're looking for food, even just pizza, only go where there are Italian people eating!

I particularly like running atop the city walls from Ostiense. Lovely way to get the views!

The first time I went to Rome I didn't even see the Colusseum, theres so much there you can drown! The best museum by far is the Capitoline Museum - includes graffiti from when Jesus was crucified and a huge Augustus statue (albeit in pieces!).

I'm also pretty nerdy about the Archeological Museum - one dig of a street takes you back through millenia of history.

If you want to go.anywhere, go early. Get to museums etc as they open.

I also echo pp comments about Ostia Antica. Its an absolute gem. You can go to the Appian Way (where Caeser marched his troops into Rome) and hire a bike and cycle the 8 miles there. Loads of sites on the way too. Don't do.this from May-September as its too damn hot!

I'm blessed in that my brother lives in Rome so I go often. He and his GF like Testaccio and Trastevere for food and jazz.

Absolutely and without the OP having to preface everything they say with - lighthearted - totally ruins the vibe.

Some classical Roman places that I have enjoyed visiting -

The Mamertine Prison, just off the Forum. A chilling two caverns where prisoners of Rome were held, including Vercingetorix, and Saints Peter and Paul.
https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/mamertine-prison-carcer-tullianum

The tomb of Emperor Augustus and the Ara Pacis - close together to the west of Via del Corso, kind of opposite the Spanish Steps to the east of Via del Corso. A nice bite-size remnant of classical Rome that are nornally peaceful, unlike the Pantheon/Colosseum etc.

https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/ara-pacis-museum https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/mausoleum-augustus

Please make absolutely sure you have a good long scream in the Sistine Chapel!! There’s a reason why it’s such a popular activity.

Go to the metro. Its just opened last month anc ix an underground museum = incredible!

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/16/passengers-rome-museum-stations-open-metro-archeological-treasures&ved=2ahUKEwj424fuspOSAxUzW0EAHc0fC1QQFnoECCUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw36AJ8e8EOSAQgnf3Jh3NhM

Watching with interest!

I love Rome. Don’t have much to add except to say thanks for reminding me about that thread.

Those were the days!!

The park around this museum https://www.sovraintendenzaroma.it/content/il-museo-della-forma-urbis

Underground rooms here https://basilicassgiovanniepaolo.it/

Restaurant Ad Hoc.

we liked the hop on hop off buses as you could have a really good look around. Great way to find some other places worthy of a scream.

If you like cats, there’s a huge cat sanctuary.

FWIW I didn't bother queuing for anything, I just enjoyed the major ticketed places from the outside for free and no lines. Philistine! But honestly I couldn't be arsed queuing for hours in the heat to see the inside of the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel (which I hear is a swift herd through the place without too much time to savour or scream!).

I much preferred just wandering around, there is a hidden gem around every corner. So I saw the Colosseum from the entrance of the (former) metro station and walked up the hill to the left for a great picture opportunity. I walked around the Forum on the outside from Via St Pietri and walked up Via dei Fori Imperiali looking in amazement at the huge lines to get into the Forum. I saw most of it for free from the hill I mentioned. I did go to the Vatican for the Pope's Wednesday audience and it was amazing and free, and while there was a queue it was very quick and well organised. I enjoyed the wander from Piazza Navona via the Pantheon, Trevi and over to the Forum and Colloseum. There is an amazing church along the way in Piazza Ignacio, the church of St. Ignatius Loyola. OMG the ceiling art is just something else. No queue and free.

I agree so much with going to Ostia Antica. It is just unbelievable, and no queues, no crowds, just Pompeii on Xanax. There were archaeological digs going on and having studied archaeology in a long past life, I had the pleasure of chatting to the diggers. Wonderful day.

I also went to Ostia Lido for the day, which is ten minutes further on than the Roman site at Ostia Antica. OMG, what a gem of a seaside heaven, away from the noise, dust, crowds and frenzy of Rome.

Loved every minute of it. I was there for a week though so I had time to do lots of things.

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Rome is the absolute best. I’ve been eight times and I always think this time I’ll do something non-touristy – and then I just go and see all the same things all over again! I love it so much.

The only suggestions I can offer, other than to be in the streets as much as possible, are to walk by the river (it’s in a big trench and it’s always pretty empty down there) or maybe the lesser-known cathedral of San Paolo which is well to the south of the centre (visited when a student and thought it was lovely).

Is it a specific archeological museum? We’re going soon and I think we’d love this, but google is just bringing up multiple archeological sites 🙂

This. Our tour was by a somellier so we also had some wonderful wine. The tour uncovered some hidden gems to eat away from the tourist track and flashed a few things to avoid. Was worth every penny and I recommend it to everyone that goes.

Highly recommend Domus Romane - it’s remains of Roman homes which were discovered and you can visit on a really good tour with light effects that show what it would have been like originally.
I also recommend getting a book which has overlays of the original Roman structures which show what they would have looked like. You can get them secondhand online and really helps you know what pillars or stones you’re looking at! Search ‘Rome overlay book’ The whole of Rome is effectively a museum, it is mind boggling to be surrounded by history.
agree with visiting Monti - I’ve actually stayed there - it’s really lovely with shopping streets and so many restaurants to choose from.

These all sound amazing. Staying near the Spanish Steps. Will look at all of these!

It is a touristy thing but less obvious: spend a day exploring the Palatine Hill.

And btw book everything online before you leave home.

I'm also going to Rome soon. I shall listen out for the screaming!! and shall also read thos thrad for the suggestions.

If I were going to Rome, I would go to the Galleria Borghese to see the Bernini Sculptures - they are just incredible!

https://borghese.gallery/tours/